Roles of Siblings in Folktales

Abstract

This article examines the portrayal of siblings and sibling relationships in folktales. It focuses on tales from collections with either British or American cultural backgrounds that include siblings as main or secondary characters. The methodology in this research is strongly inspired by the study of sibling relationships in young children’s literature conducted by Laurie Kramer, Sonia Noorman, and Renee Brockman in 1999. Folktales are analysed in terms of the birth order of main characters, their gender, and themes that characterise the relationships and behaviour of siblings. The structuralist framework of Vladimir Propp is employed to classify character functions, such as heroes, helpers, and villains, within the narratives. Furthermore, this article challenges, to some extent, certain traditional views regarding folktale characters, ultimately highlighting the importance of scholarly research into sibling dynamics in literature.